Support innovation.
To stay ahead, innovation is required. The most successful businesses are those that remain flexible and innovative and build on current successes without consistently overtaxing their teams.
Leadership matters.
Innovation comes from inspiration. Teams must be led by managers that go beyond balancing budgets and schedules. The strongest leaders set goals, priorities and roles for their teams, and encourage each team member to achieve their personal best while keeping strategic goals in mind.
Leaders must be clear on vision, know where the team is going and have a clear idea of how individual efforts lead to accomplishing important strategic goals. If done well, leadership can create a culture of continuous improvements to productivity. Leaders should be open to new ideas and willing to take risks in order to reach higher performance levels.
Hire the right people.
Hiring well can be the single greatest factor in contributing to a company’s success. The right person will bring not just a particular skill set or knowledge base, but will be a solid addition to drive forward your company’s vision and values.
Keep learning.
Productivity is increased when team members have all the skills they need to succeed. If you identify someone with great enthusiasm who lacks practical skills, encourage them to take an online course or be mentored by a colleague with more expertise. Be sure your team knows that skill development is expected, and that no one should rest on their laurels.
Streamline processes.
The start of a new year is a great time to step back and take a look at process integration in the workplace. Streamlining processes between teams and departments can go a long way towards maximizing productivity. Part of any process integration effort should focus on breaking down obvious silos and barriers in order to help groups and individuals feel more connected to the greater whole.
Build commitment.
Use your company’s leadership around vision and values to build employee commitment. A competitive business plan and strategy are important, yet a company culture that celebrates innovation and dedication to that vision and strategy will do as much to motivate employees.
Recognize team members who go the extra mile and are willing to take risks on implementing new ideas. Clear communication is paramount. Team communications should be transparent and factual. Employees whose ideas and concerns are listened to and acted upon by management will feel connected and part of the decision making process. Feeling part of goes a long way toward building commitment and dedication.
Get the team involved in managing resources.
When you involve appropriate team members in the resource allocation process, you create a spirit of collaboration on important decisions. Plus, you probably get more accurate outcomes when recourses are being managed by the person who is most knowledgeable in their area.
